Between 2025-07-12 and 2025-07-19 we selected 11 newly released games that are rated as Verified or Playable on the Steam Deck, and meeting specific criteria in terms of user ratings. This week the most acclaimed title is Back To The Dawn, praised for its art, its engaging story, its awesome soundtrack and… it’s Verified for the Deck!

Here’s the full list below of what we have selected:

BACK TO THE DAWN

Released on 17 Jul, 2025, developed by Metal Head Games and published by Spiral Up Games. [Steam Store Page]

Genre: Adventure, Indie, RPG, Simulation, Strategy

Steam Deck Rating: Verified

User Reviews: 95.6 % Positive (out of 798 total reviews)

About the game: Back to the Dawn is a story-rich RPG set in a high-security prison ruled by factions and buried secrets. Investigate two conspiracies from the inside, gather evidence, and outsmart a system designed to silence you. Make friends (or foes) with fellow inmates and with their help, break out of prison.

WORD PLAY

Released on 14 Jul, 2025, developed by Game Maker’s Toolkit, self-published. [Steam Store Page]

Genre: Casual

Steam Deck Rating: Verified

User Reviews: 93.5 % Positive (out of 368 total reviews)

About the game: Spell words, pick perks, score points, and survive until the end. Every round is different. How far can you make it?

C.A.S.T. (CHERNOZEM ANOMALY STRIKE TEAM)

Released on 14 Jul, 2025, developed by Ascension Studio, self-published. [Steam Store Page]

Genre: Action, Indie, Massively Multiplayer

Steam Deck Rating: Playable

User Reviews: 92.9 % Positive (out of 253 total reviews)

About the game: C.A.S.T is a third-person PvE extraction shooter playable solo or in co-op. Select your character and loadout to battle enemy hordes, evade anomalies, and complete objectives across handcrafted maps with dynamic procedural elements.

ERIKSHOLM: THE STOLEN DREAM

Released on 15 Jul, 2025, developed by River End Games and published by Nordcurrent Labs. [Steam Store Page]

Genre: Action, Adventure, Strategy

Steam Deck Rating: Verified

User Reviews: 92.7 % Positive (out of 123 total reviews)

About the game: Experience an isometric, narrative-driven stealth game and join Hanna’s adventure in the vibrant city of Eriksholm. The mysterious disappearance of her brother, Herman, ignites a chain of catastrophic events that will forever change their lives and the fate of the entire city.

THE WANDERING VILLAGE

Released on 17 juil. 2025, developed by Stray Fawn Studio and published by Stray Fawn Publishing, . [Steam Store Page]

Genre: Simulation, Stratégie

Steam Deck Rating: Verified

User Reviews: 92.3 % Positive (out of 2875 total reviews)

About the game: The Wandering Village is a city-building simulation game on the back of a giant, wandering creature. Build your settlement and form a symbiotic relationship with the colossus. Will you survive together in this hostile, yet beautiful post-apocalyptic world, contaminated by poisonous plants?

SALOON SIMULATOR

Released on 15 Jul, 2025, developed by Glivi Games S.A. and published by RockGame S.A.. [Steam Store Page]

Genre: Casual, Simulation, Early Access

Steam Deck Rating: Playable

User Reviews: 90.5 % Positive (out of 105 total reviews)

About the game: Saloon Simulator is a first-person sim where you restore and run an abandoned saloon. Master drink-making and cooking, customize the space to attract customers, and enjoy mini-games in a story-driven Old West setting.

HE IS COMING

Released on 17 Jul, 2025, developed by Chronocle and published by Hooded Horse. [Steam Store Page]

Genre: RPG, Strategy, Early Access

Steam Deck Rating: Verified

User Reviews: 89.3 % Positive (out of 261 total reviews)

About the game: Deep in the forgotten corners of the world, a dark force stirs – the Demon King rises once more. Sharpen your wits, seek out powerful artifacts, and stand firm in the face of the apocalypse in this roguelite RPG auto battler.

STRONGHOLD CRUSADER: DEFINITIVE EDITION

Released on 15 Jul, 2025, developed by FireFly Studios, self-published. [Steam Store Page]

Genre: Simulation, Strategy

Steam Deck Rating: Playable

User Reviews: 88.8 % Positive (out of 949 total reviews)

About the game: Gird your loins and sharpen your steel! Besiege 20 unique enemy lords and battle friends online, in this expanded remaster of the classic ‘castle sim’. Relive history with new units, opponents, visuals, audio, campaigns, skirmish trails, co-op and larger maps.

DRILL CORE

Released on Jul 17, 2025, developed by Hungry Couch Games and published by tinyBuild. [Steam Store Page]

Genre: Indie, Strategy

Steam Deck Rating: Verified

User Reviews: 86.3 % Positive (out of 468 total reviews)

About the game: Corporate greed meets strategic planet-mining in Drill Core! Drill to the heart of planets while managing workers, researching cutting-edge tech, and fortifying against alien attacks. Will you prioritize efficiency and risk your workers’ safety, or focus on defense for survival?

MOTEMANCER

Released on 14 Jul, 2025, developed by CyanAvatar Studios, self-published. [Steam Store Page]

Genre: Casual, Indie, Simulation, Strategy, Early Access

Steam Deck Rating: Playable

User Reviews: 100 % Positive (out of 54 total reviews)

About the game: Automate across six Elemental planes, each with unique logistical tools. Infuse ingredients, craft alchemical structures, and uncover elegant solutions through experimentation - cultivating a garden of possibility, one discovery at a time.

FOREST HEROES

Released on 17 Jul, 2025, developed by Hoochoo Game Studios, self-published. [Steam Store Page]

Genre: Action, Casual, Strategy

Steam Deck Rating: Playable

User Reviews: 97.6 % Positive (out of 41 total reviews)

About the game: Forest Heroes combines tower defense with roguelike deck building. Enjoy intense battles and diverse strategies with simple controls!